Caffeine Use Improves Pain Management for Opioid Users, Study Finds

A recent study suggests that low amounts of caffeine consumption — measured by the number of cups of coffee consumed — reduces pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia in patients who also take opioids.

Several studies have shown that caffeine, when administered in conjunction with analgesics such as aspirin or acetaminophen, can enhance the effects of these analgesics. However, the relationship between caffeine and chronic pain is still uncertain. Furthermore, caffeine’s role as an adjuvant for opioid use has not been studied.

Patients with fibromyalgia were treated between 2010-2014 at the Back and Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System. Each was asked to complete a survey. Patients self-reported their symptoms, coffee consumption (low, moderate, high), and opioid use. Participants were divided according to their caffeine consumption into three groups: Low was less than one cup a day, moderate use was 1.5–2.5 cups a day), and high consumption was classified as 3-12 cups a day.

Of the 962 fibromyalgia patients included in the study, 59 percent were on opioid therapy. There was no significant difference in coffee consumption between the opioid and non-opioid user groups, and the average age of both groups was 47 years old.

Patients drinking low or moderate amounts of caffeine also had significantly less pain interference.

The moderate caffeine group also showed lower pain severity and depression.

There were no improvements associated with coffee consumption for non-opioid users, except for a higher physical function.

These results show that low or moderate levels of caffeine consumption can improve pain symptoms for patients with chronic pain who also have been prescribed opioids.

“Caffeine consumption was associated with decreased pain and symptom severity in opioid users, but not in opioid nonusers, indicating caffeine may act as an opioid adjuvant in fibromyalgia-like chronic pain patients.” the team wrote.

“These data suggest that caffeine consumption concomitant with opioid analgesics could provide therapeutic benefits not seen with opioids or caffeine alone.” the researchers concluded.